A Virgin Atlantic
pilot detained by police in Washington has been charged with attempting
to operate an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.Captain Richard
Harwell, 55, who is American but lives in the UK with his family, had been
due to take 383 passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Washington
to Heathrow airport in London when he was arrested.

The spokesman said
Capt Harwell had been with the airline 14 years and had an "unblemished
record".

"Everyone at Virgin
Atlantic is shocked and surprised," the spokesman said."This is unprecedented
- it's the first time it has happened in the 20 years we've been operating
and is totally out of character for Captain Harwell, who is an extremely
experienced and popular pilot.

"We are at a loss
to explain what has happened."

Capt Harwell, who
has been stood down from duty, was still in custody and the issue of bail
would be established later, he added.

Friday night's VS22
flight had to be delayed after the pilot was arrested and the stranded
travellers were put up in hotels until a new crew could be found.

The pilot was detained
by Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police Department shortly
before his flight after security screeners detected alcohol on his breath.

He was escorted
off the plane by airport police, who were alerted by the Transportation
Safety Administration, which suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.

A Virgin Atlantic
spokesman said all the stranded passengers had been offered a free return
flight and appreciated the airline's actions to help them, despite being
frustrated at the delay.

"We were open and
candid with them and immediately said why the plane was not able to fly,"
he said.

The spokesman added:
"Our policy of no tolerance to alcohol in the workplace is well established
and well understood, and well understood by Captain Harwell."